Kinshasa: The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo witnessed a major celebration on September 20, when Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, ordained 18 deacons and 4 priests during a solemn Eucharistic ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Congo.

In his homily, Cardinal Ambongo reminded the newly ordained that priesthood and diaconate are not titles of honor but responsibilities of service. He urged them to embrace humility, simplicity, and closeness to the poor, highlighting that their mission must be rooted in service to the people of God, especially the marginalized.

The Cardinal emphasized that effective ministry requires careful preparation, prayerful preaching, and integrity of life. “Ordination is not a privilege but a commitment to live daily for Christ and his people,” he said.

The event comes at a time when the Catholic Church in DR Congo continues to grow in numbers despite the challenges of poverty, political instability, and social unrest. Similar large-scale ordinations have taken place in other dioceses, such as Lubumbashi in July, where 37 priests and 25 deacons were ordained.

The Church in the country has also been renewing leadership at the episcopal level, with several new bishops appointed in recent years. These developments underline the vitality of Catholic life in DR Congo, where the clergy are being called to stand as witnesses of faith, truth, and justice amid ongoing national challenges.